The Hat ponders moving Gary Crowton to the sidelines. Mike Bobo can tell you how well that works, Lester. On the other hand, it’s not like things could get any worse for LSU’s offense, right?

Wow.Bryce Brown claims he saw Nu’Keese Richardson, Mike Edwards and Janzen Jackson in an elevator and became aware the three were “on their way to rob a convenience store” on the night of their arrests.

Speaking of Junior’s success stories, “Andrew Luck and Stanford are favored by 10 points over USC this week, marking the first time the Trojans have been double-digit underdogs since September 1998.”

Some well intended, but ultimately useless, commentary posted at the NCAA site by the commissioner of the Horizon League:

… The primary reason sports exist on university campuses is that it is intended to add value to the educational experience of the participants. Simply put, college athletics is supposed to be about an educational experience that focuses on competing, learning and serving. It is not primarily and was not intended to be an overtly commercialized enterprise that emphasizes brand, market share and TV ratings.

… Boilermaker fans (or readers with a general cleat fetish) may want to head over to Purdue’s official website at some point in the next 32 hours, where they’ll find the opportunity to bid on a pair of size 14 Nikes worn by All-Big Ten defensive end/future first-rounder Ryan Kerrigan during the 2009 season. You know they’re real because they “feature many marks and scuffs authenticating them as game-worn,” and because Kerrigan autographed them. Early bidding for this small piece of one of your favorite players is only up to $175.

Honestly, I don’t know how these guys keep a straight face as they lecture us on the sins of commercialism. As even LeCrone admits, “The NCAA, once primarily a regulatory outfit focused on enforcement and championships, now actively manages programs in revenue generation, branding, marketing, promotion and positioning the “Blue Disk.”” It’s just good bidness, right? Especially if you can cut off competition from the very kids you both regulate and exploit.

… UGA has lost four straight games, the most recent loss to a Colorado team that will at best finish 5-7 this year. There is a decent chance that Boulder loss could end up being worse than Ole Miss’ loss to Jacksonville State… [Emphasis added.]

But maybe it’s just me. So, I thought, this is a perfect opportunity to gauge your pessimism – it’s time for another reader poll!

Quote Of The Day

“It brings back a great Bulldog running back in Thomas who has NFL playing experience and has had success as a college coach at multiple schools. He also inherits a position that has been built to an elite level by Bryan. And it gives Bryan the opportunity to return to coaching the position he played and the one where he cut his teeth serving as a graduate assistant under wide receiver coach John Eason here at UGA. It also provides him with a new experience as a passing game coordinator.” -- Mark Richt, AB-H, 2/16/15